Apparatus for cutting quartz oscillator blanks



Jan.7, 1947. I w, c; SPEED 2,413,795

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING QUARTZ OSCILLATOR BLANKS Filed Nov. 20,1945 2Sheets-Sheet 1 nA 3 VIII l0,

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' INVENTOR. l Vf/fl'a Wr 6. J eed BY G M YM ATTORNEYS Jan. 7, 1947. w.0. SPEED I 2,413,795 3 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING QUARTZ OSCILLATOR BLANKSFiled Nov. 20, 1945 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

W/W/am C iaeed BY A TTORNE Y5 Patented Jan. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE- APPARATUSFOR CUTTING QUARTZ OSCILLATOR BLANKS.

William C. Speed; New York, N. Y-l, assignor -to Reeves-ElyLaboratories, Ina, New'York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication November 20, 1943,.SerialN0.511;.204

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to quartz oscillator plates and has ior'itsobjectcertain improvements in apparatus for sawing blanks from quartzcrystals.

A varietyof types of sawing machines and sawing techniques have beenproposed forthe making of oscillator plates. In all cases a device isused to hold the quartz crystal in'proper orientation for sawing. Thecrystal is oriented and then-mounted so it can be fed to the saw or thesaw brought to the crystal. The crystal is, for example, solidlyimbedded in plaster of Paris or otherwise cemented to a base made ofplywood, glass, etc. The base is then clamped to the cutting table. Anatural face, or a trued surface, of

the crystal is usually used as a base for the mounting; the face orsurface being, for example, aligned with the surface of the cuttingtable; The table is then turned to bring the crystal'in the desiredangle of cut with respect to the saw.

This practicehas a number of serious disadvantages. It isdifficult toalign the crystal accurately unless it has a natural'face oi sufiicientsize. Crystal with such natural faces are now the exception ratherthan-the rule. This is one of the reasonswhy the crystals aregiven-preliminary cuts to obtain a trued section with a flat surfacethat can be used to positionthe crystal on the cutting table. Specialsteps must, therefore, be taken-to obtain trued sections, and there arenevertheless opportunities for error in mounting and aligning thecrystal to the saw. These difficulties are, of course, greatly increasedwhen workingwith raw crystals that do not have any, or ample, naturalfaces.

I have discovered that these disadvantages may be substantiallyovercome. The quartz crystal may be readily and accurately cut into cs--cillator plates. It may be mounted and aligned with respect to its axesand may be cut or sawed Without disturbing the alignment. As a result ofthese improvements, substantial economies may be effected over thepractice heretofore followed and oscillator plates of predeterminedangle of cut maybe regularly obtained.

In accordance with the method of invention, the. optical and electricalaxes of a quartz crystal,- or section of crystal, are placed inpredetermined relationship with a given reference lineremovedfrom.thecrystal. The crystal is then cut at a predetermined angle of cutwith respect to the reference line while maintaining the optical andelectrical axes of the crystal fixedintheir relationship to thereference line.

The apparatus. comprises a cutting machine,

an adjustable guide support, .a removable quartz holder" adapted toengage the guidesupportin a predetermi'nedpo'sition, means associatedwith the holder for maintaining the optical andelectricalaxesoi-aquartzcrystal mounted thereon in predetermined fixed relationship to areference part of'theholder, means for placing theguide support'andhence-the holder andcrystal at 'a predetermined angleof cut with respectto-the cutter; and'means-for advancing the guide support, holderandcrystal-asa unit to thecutter atsuch'predetermined-angleof out whilemaintaining the optical and electrical axes of the crystal fixed intheirpredetermined relationship to thereferencepart oi the holder.

"The invention will be better understood by reierringto the:accompanying drawings, taken iniconjunction with.the followingdescription, in which:.

Fig. 1 is-aside:.elevation,.partly. in section, of anapparatusillustrative.oi, and adapted for, a practice of the. invention;

;2-. is a plan-view'oi the same apparatus;

Fig.3 isan:enlargedi side view-0f a portion of the apparatus, partlyt'insection; and

Fig. 4 Ban enlarged plan view ofa portion of the apparatus.-

Theapparatus shown comprises a sawing machineltla quartzcrystal holder II, an adjustable guide. support. I2 anupper carriage l3, and a lowercarriage Hi, all of which are suitably mount'edon a base [5, which is inturn supported by a framework, notshown, to place the carriages-andholder at a convenient level for the operators of the apparatus.

Referringt'o Fig. 1',,the apparatus shown includes a:circular saw it,mounted on ashaft l1 extendin'gthrough'the free .end of a pull-down armI'B. The pull-down arm is pivotally secured to'ashaft' i9near'its'otherend, the shaft being rotatably'supportedbya pair of spaced verticalsupports 26]. is provided with -an-adjustable counterweight 2 5. Anuprightarm' 2'2"issupported on a cross-arm extending across the verticalsupports. The pulldown arm is movably interconnectedto the upright-armby means of a pneumatic shock absorloer 23 'ot conventionalconstruction. When the saw is pulled downwardly, bypulling down thepull-arm, the casing of the shock absorber .also movesdownwardly awayirom a stationary pistonl-not shown) securedt'o theupper endof theupri'ght armr Air then rushes into the space between the' pistonhead andthe lower part of the casing; When-=-the saw-is released, the'coun-'terweight forces it -upwardly into an inoperative Therear end of thepull-down arm position. The upward action of the pull-down arm isretarded when the casing of the shock absorber rises around the piston,by permitting the air in the casing to exit therefrom in regulatedamounts.

Shaft i9 is provided with a pulley 24 which is in turn fitted with adrive belt 25 connecting a source of power, not shown. Shaft I9 is alsoprovided with a pulley 23 and shaft I! with a pulley 21. A drive belt 28connects the two pulleys so that rotating power may be transmitted tothe saw.

The particular quartz crystal holder shown is more fully described andclaimed in my copending application Serial No. 511,198, filed November20, 1943. It comprises a series of superposed supports or bases: a fixedbase A, a lower tiltable base B, an upper tiltable base C and arotatable base D. Bases D and C are pivotally tiltable at right anglesto each other as well as toward and away from base A. Base D isrotatable laterally on base C. A quartz crystal 3!) is shown mounted onbase D.

Base A is provided with an inverted guide channel 31 open at both ends,rectangular in crosssection, and adapted to fit over guide support 12,also rectangular in cross-section. The part of the holder that definesthe channel is advantageously used as a reference part to which theoptical axis and an electrical axis of the crystal may be suitablyadjusted. A pair of spaced pivot posts 32 and 33 is integrally securedto and centrally of the base at opposite ends; the upper ends of theposts being rounded, as shown, so that base B may be supported andreadily tilted thereon. A pair of spaced bolts 34 and 35 is integrallysecured to base A at diagonal corners, the bolts being sufficiently longto extend through and a convenient distance above base B.

Base B is provided on its underside with a spaced pair of concaverecesses which are adapted to receive and to accommodate the roundedupper ends of pivot posts 32 and 33 respectively extending above base A.The opposite sides of base B have cut-away portions to provide freeworking space above bolt slots 44 and 45 respectively in base A. Base Bis also provided with a pair of slotted bolt holes, not shown, atdiagonal corners to accommodate bolts 34 and 35, with nuts 46 and 41,respectively in base A. A pair of spaced pivot posts 48 and 43 isintegrally secured to and centrally of the base at opposite sides, theupper ends of the posts being rounded, as shown, so that base C may besupported and tilted thereon. These pivot posts are aligned at rightangles to pivot posts 32 and 33 of base A. A pair of spaced bolts 50 andis integrally secured to base B at diagonal corners, the bolts beingsufficiently long to extend through and. a convenient distance abovebase C.

Base C is provided on its undersid with a pair of spaced concaverecesses which are adapted to receive and accommodate the rounded upperends of pivot posts 48 and 49 extending above base B. The diagonalcorners are cut away, as shown, to permit ready access to bolts 34 and35 extending above base B. Base C is also provided with a pair ofslotted bolt holes, not shown, at the other diagonal corners toaccommodate bolts 50 and 5| with nuts 64 and 65, respectively, in baseB. The upper side of base C is provided with a circular recess 66adapted to receive and accommodate the lower portion of base D. A

spaced pair of threaded bolt holes, notnshown,

extend through base C at opposite sides, and ac commodate bolts 6'! and68.

Base D consists of a circular bottom disk 80, preferably of metal,integrally secured to a smaller circular top disk 8|, preferably made offiberboard or the like. An outer annular clamping shoulder 82 isprovided by the bottom disk due to the smaller diameter of the top disk.A pair of clamps 83 and 84 is attachable to base C by bolts 61 and 68,respectively in base C. Each clamp has a zig-zag configuration, theouter end being provided with a narrow depending shoulder portionadapted to rest on the top of base C and to pivot thereon. The other endof the clamp consists of a laterally extending portion adapted to bepressed downwardly on the top of base D when bolts 61 and 68 aretightened.

Guide support 12 is in turn secured to a base Qt located at the bottomof tray 9| which is adapted to catch cutting liquid used on the saw whencutting quartz crystals. Base is provided with a pair of bolts 92 and 93extending through the guide support and slots 44 and 45 in base A sothat it and the lower fixed base A of the holder may be suitably securedto one another. The base and tray are in turn rotatably secured to anouter hollow shaft 94, the lower end of which rests slidably on astationary collar 95. An inner solid shaft 96 is secured to the upperside of the collar and extends upwardly within the hollow shaft. Theconstruction is such that the outer shaft and hence the tray, guidesupport, and the holder may be swiveled around the inner shaft. A setscrew 91 extends through the Wall of the outer shaft so that the twoshafts may be locked in any desired position. v The outer surface of theouter shaft is provided with a suitable scale I00 so that the guidesupport and hence the holder and crystal may be swiveled a predeterminedamount with respect to the line of cut of the saw. The movable parts maythen be locked in their adjusted position by the set screw.

Collar 95 is in turn secured to a table IUI on upper carriage 13 whichis slidably interlocked with a table I02 on lower carriage M. The twotable are adapted to slide relatively to one another among zig-zagsurfaces I03. A threaded shaft N14 is secured at one end to table HH andconnects near the other end with collars IE5 to prevent lateral movementthereof and a handle I05, the collars being secured to a carriage frame10?. A similar threaded shaft IE8 is secured at one end to table H12 andconnects at the other end with collars I09 to prevent lateral movementthereof and a handle H0, the collars being being secured to a carriageframe I l I. In the con struction shown, the shafts are at right anglesto one another and the carriages are therefore adapted to be moved inright angle relationship to one another.

The apparatus may be operated as follows to saw oscillator blanks:

Crystal 30 is mounted on the holder with its optical axis fixed inpredeterminedrelationship with a given or reference part of the holder,which in the apparatus shown is the inverted, guide channel 3| in fixedbase A. The optical axis may, for example, be determined and fixed inthe manner disclosed in the copending application of Harry Berman,Serial No. 511,199, filed November 20, 1943. It is advantageously placedin parallel relationship with the guide channel, for example, the sidesthereof. The electrical axis of the crystal is also fixed inpredetermined relationship with a, given or reference part of theholder,which in the-apparatus shown is also guide inthe'copendingapplication of Harry Ber'man, 'Serial No; 511,201, filedNovember-20, 1943. In

practice it is advantageous to place the electrical axis perpendicularto the top of the guide channel. The holder is secured to the sawin-apparatus by fitting-guide channel 3| in base A over adjustable guidesupport I2.- ln'other Words; the guide support will then fit in the'guide channel fa-irlysnugly so that thetwo may function in effect as areference line or partforthe cutting operation. Bolts $2 and 93 in slots44 and 45 of base A are then tightened so that the holder is rigidlysecured to the guide'support. In the present construction the guidesupport is disposed horizontally. This leaves the optical axis of thecrystal in horizontal relationship and the electrical axis in verticalrelationshipthereto.

Saw-|ii is placed in perpendicular relationship to the guide support andtherefore also guide channel3l.

Since the optical and electrical axes of the cry.-

tal and the line of cut of the saw are placed in this predeterminedrelationship, any-desired angle of cut may be obtained by swivelingadjustable guide support [2, This is accomplished by looseningset screw97 and suitably swiveling the holder and'outer hollow shaft 9 aboutfixed solid shaft 95 until the predetermined angle of cut H2 isobtained. This is visually indicated on scale "38. Set screw d? is thentightened to fix the parts in their adjusted position.

With the optical and electrical axes of the crystal fixed inpredetermined relationship with saw IS; the crystal may be moved to asuitable position under the saw by suitably turning handle we ofcarriage l3 and handle I i ii of carriage l4. Pulldown arm iBis thenlowered to bring the saw in contact with the crystal. Power is appliedto belts 25 and 28, and the saw rotates about its shaft i1. One blankafter another may then be cut from the crystal, the thickness of theblanks being regulated by the amount carriages i3 and 14 are moved byhandles 5% and HG. It will be clear that the reference line or part maybe Varied. For example, the various elements going into the apparatusmay be so constructed that an edge or a face or even a line, as shown,through the center of the top of adjustable guide support l2, etc., oran edge or a face of guide channel 23, etc., may be employed. Theimportant thing is to select a suitable reference line or part and thento operate the apparatus with respect to that reference line or part inorder to obtain the advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for manufacturing quartz oscillator plates, theimprovement comprising a cutter, a guide support, a removable quartzcrystal holder adapted to engage the guide support in a predeterminedposition; said holder comprising a fixed base, a lower tiltable basepivotally supported by the fixed base, an upper tiltable base pivotallysupported by the lower tiltable base, and a rotatable base supported bythe upper tiltable base, the tiltable bases being tiltable with respectto each other and the fixed base; means associated with the holder formaintaining the optical and electrical axes of a quartz crystal mountedthereon in predetermined fixed relationship to a reference part of theholder, a swivelly adjustable mountin for placingthe guide support andhence the holder-and crystal at a predetermined'angle of outwith"-respect to the "cutter; and' ineans for "advancing the guide support,holder 'and crystal as a:-'-unit='tothe cutter at such predeterminedangle of out while maintaining *the eoptical' and 'holderadapted toengage the guide support in a predetermined positiony-said holdercomprising-a fixed base provided with at "least two pivot posts, a lowertiltable base-supported; by'-- said pivot-posts; the lower tiltablebasealso being provided with at'least two pivot posts; said two sets ofpivot posts beingaligne'd' atright-angles to each other, an uppertiltable" base supported by the latter pivot posts, and a rotatable basesupported'by the'upper tiltable base, said tiltable bases-being'tiltable with respect to each other and said fixe'dba'se; means"associated with the holder'for maintaining the optical andelectricalaxes of 'a quartz crystal-mounted thereon in pre-. determined fixedrelationship to areference part of the holder, means for placing'theguide support andvhence theho'lder and crystal at a predetermined angleof cut with respect to the cutter, and means for advancing the guidesupport, holder and crystal as a'unit to the cutter at suchpredetermined'angle 'of out" while -maintaining the opticaland'ele'ctri'cal axes of the crystal'fixed in their predeterminedrelationship to the reference part of the holder.

3. In apparatus for manufacturing quartz oscillator plates, theimprovement comprising a cutter, a guide'support, a'rem o-vable quartzcrystal holder adapted to engage the g'u'ide'support in a predeterminedposition; said holder comprising a fixed base, a lower tiltable base'piifotally sup-- ported by the'fixed base, anupper 'tiltable basepivotally'supported by the lower'tiltable base,

and a rotatable base supported by the upper tiltable base theftiltablebases being tiltable with respect toeach other andfthefixed base; meansassociated'with the holder for maintaining the optical and electricalaxes of a quartz crystal mounted'thereon inpre'determined fixedrelationship to areference "part of the holder, means for p-lacing 'theguiclesupport and hence the holder and crystal at apred'etermined angleof cut with respect td'the -cutter, said-"means for placing the guidesupport comprising a rotatable base supporting the guide support, meansassociated with the latter rotatable base for determining the amount ofrotation thereof with respect to the cutter, and means for advancing theguide support, holder andcrystal as a unit to the cutter at suchpredetermined angle of cut while maintaining the optical and electricalaxes of the crystal fixed in their predetermined relationship to thereference part of the holder.

4. In apparatus for manufacturing quartz oscillator plates, theimprovement comprising a cutter, ag'uidesupport, a removable quartzcrystal holder adapted to engage the guide support in a predeterminedposition said holder comprising a fixed base, a lower tiltable basepivotally supported by the fixed base, an upper tiltable basepivot'allysupported by the lower tiltable base, and a rotatable basesupported by the upper til-table base, the=ti-ltab1e bases beingtiltable with respect to each other and the fixed base; means"associand" 'electricalaxes (if a uartz crystal mounted thereon inpredetermined fixed relationship to a reference part of the holder,means for placing the guide support and hence the holder and crystal ata predetermined angle of cut with respect to the cutter, and means foradvancing the guide support, holder and crystal as a unit to the cutterat such predetermined angle of out while maintaining the optical andelectrical .axes of the crystal fixed in their predeterminedrelationship to the reference part of the holder, said latter meanscomprising an upper carriage supporting the guide support and beingmovable laterally at right angles to the cutter, and a lower carriagesupporting the upper carriage, the lower carriage being movablelaterally in a direction generally parallel to the cutter and at rightangles to the direction of travel of the upper carriage.

5. In apparatus for manufacturing quartz os cillator plates, theimprovement comprising a cutter, a guide support, a removable quartzcrystal holder adapted to engage the guide support in a predeterminedposition; said holder comprising a fixed base, a lower tiltable basepivotally supported by the fixed base, an upper tiltable base pivotallysupported by the lower tiltable base, H

and a rotatable base supported by theupper tiltable base, the tiltablebases being tiltable with respect to each other and the fixed base;means associated with the holder for maintaining the optical andelectrical axes of a quartz crystal mounted thereon in predeterminedfixed relationship to a reference part of the holder, means for placingthe guide support and hence the holder and crystal at a. predeterminedangle of cut with respect to the cutter, said means for placing theguide support comprising a rotatable base supporting the guide support,means associated with the latter rotatable base for determining theamount of rotation thereof with respect to the cutter, and means foradvancing the guide support, holder and crystal as a unit to the cutterat such predetermined angle of out while maintaining the optical andelectrical axes of the crystal fixed in their predetermined relationshipto the reference part of the holder, said latter means comprising anupper carriage supporting the guide support and being movable laterallyat right angles to the cutter, and a lower carriage supporting the uppercarriage, the lower carriage being movable laterally in a directiongenerally parallel to the cutter and at right angles to the direction oftravel of the upper carriage.

6. In apparatus for manufacturing quartz oscilla-tor plates, theimprovement comprising a cutter, an adjustable guide support, aremovable quartz crystal holder adapted to engage the guide support in apredetermined position; said holder comprising a fixed base, a lowertiltable base pivotally supported by the fixed base, the lower tiltablebase being tiltable with respect to the fixed base abouta straight lineaxis at a fixed distance from the fixed base, means connecting the fixedbase and the lower tiltable base for-locking the two bases when thelower tiltable base is adjusted to a desired position, an upper tiltablebase pivotally supported by the lower tiltable base, the upper tiltablebase bein tiltable with respect to the lower tiltable base and the fixedbase about a straight line axis in angular relationship to the otherstraight line axis and a fixed distance from the lower tiltable base,means connecting the lower tiltable base and the upper tiltable base forlocking the two tiltable bases when the upper tiltable base is adjustedto a desired position, a rotatable base supported by the uppertiltable'base, and means connecting the upper tiltable base and therotatable base for locking the two bases when the rotatable base isadjusted to a desired position; a swivelly adjustable mounting forplacing the guide support and hence the holder and crystal at apredetermined angle of cut with respect to the cutter, and means foradvancing the guide support, holder and crystal as a unit to the cutterat such predetermined angle of cut.

7. In apparatus for manufacturing quartz os cillator plates, theimprovement comprising a cutter, an adjustable guide support, aremovable quartz crystal holder adapted to engage the guide support in apredetermined position; said holder comprising a fixed base, a lowertiltable base pivotally supported by the fixed base, the lower tiltablebase being tiltable with respect to the fixed base about a straight lineaxis'at a fixed distance from the fixed base, means connecting the fixedbase and the lower tiltable base for locking the two bases when thelower tiltable base is adjusted to a desired position, an upper tiltablebase pivotally supported by the lower tiltable base, the upper tiltablebase being tiltable with respect to the lower tiltable base and thefixed base about a straight line axis in perpendicular relationship tothe other straight line axis and afixed distance from the lower tiltablebase, means connecting the lower tiltable base and the upper tiltablebase for locking the two bases when the upper tiltable base is adjustedto a desired position, a rotatable base supported by the upper tiltablebase, and means connecting the upper tiltable base and the rotatablebase for locking the two bases when the rotatable base is adjusted to adesired position; a swivelly adjustable mounting for placing the guidesupport and hence the holder and crystal at a predetermined angle of cutwith respect to the cutter, and means for advancing the guide support,holder and crystal as a unit to the cutter at such predetermined angleof out.

8. In apparatus for manufacturing quartz oscillator plates, theimprovement comprisin a cutter, an adjustable guide support, a removablequartz crystal holder adapted to engage the guide support in apredetermined position; said holder comprising a fixed base, a lowertiltable base pivotally supported by the fixed base, the lower tiltablebase being tiltable with respect to the fixed base about a straight lineaxis at a fixed distance from the fixed base, means connecting the fixedbase and the lower tiltable base for locking the two bases when thelower tiltable base is adjusted to a desired position, an upper tiltablebase pivotally supported by the lower tiltable base, the upper tiltablebase being tiltable with respect to the lower tiltable base and thefixed base about a straight line axis in angular relationship to theother straight line axis and a fixed distance from the lower tiltablebase, means connecting the lower tiltable base and the upper tiltablebase for locking the two tiltable bases when the upper tiltable base isadjusted to a desired position, a rotatable base supported by the uppertiltable base, and means connecting the upper tiltable base and therotatable base for locking the two bases when the rotatable base isadjusted to a desired position; means for placing the guide support andhence the holder and crystal at a predetermined angle of cut withrespect to the cutter, and means for bringing the guide support, holderand crystal as a unit and the cutter into cutting position at suchpredetermined angle'of cut.

In apparatus for manufacturing quartz oscillator plates, the improvementcomprising a cutter, an adjustable guide support, a removable quartzcrystal holder adapted to engage the guide support in a predeterminedposition; said holder comprising a fixed base, a lower tiltable basepivotally supported by the fixed base, the lower tiltable base beingtiltable with respect to the fixed base about a straight line axi at afixed distance from the fixed base, means connecting the fixed base andthe lower tiltable base for locking the two bases when the lowertiltable base is adjusted to a desired position, an upper tiltable basepivotally supported by the lower tiltabl base, the upper tiltable basebeing tiltable with respect to the lower tiltable base and the fixedbase about a straight line axis in perpendicular relationship to theother straight line axis and a fixed distance from the lower tiltablebase, means connecting the lower tiltable base and the upper tiltablebase for locking the two bases when the upper tiltable base is adjustedto a. desired position, a rotatable base supported by the upper tiltablebase, and means connecting the upper tiltable base and the rotatablebase for locking the two bases when the rotatable base is adjusted to adesired position; means for placing the guide support and hence theholder and crystal at a predetermined angle of cut with respect to thecutter, and means for bringing the guide support, holder and crystal asa unit and the cutter into cutting position at suchjpredetermined anglof out.

10. In apparatus for manufacturing quartz oscillator plates, theimprovement comprising a cutter, an adjustable guide support, aremovable quartz crystal holder adapted to engage the guide support in apredetermined position; said holder comprising a fixed base, a lowertiltable base pivotally supported on pivoting means secured to the fixedbase, the lower tiltable base being tiltable with respect to the fixedbase about a straight lin axis at a fixed distance from the fixed base,means connecting the fixed base and the lower tiltable base for lockingthe two bases when the lower tiltable base is adjusted to a desiredposition, an upper tiltable base pivotally supported on pivoting meanssecured to the lower tiltable base, the upper tiltable base beingtiltable with respect to the lower tiltable base and the fixed baseabout a straight line axis in perpendicular relationship to the otherstraight line axis and a fixed distance from the lower tiltable base,means connecting the lower tiltable base and the upper tiltable base forlocking the two bases when the upper tiltable base is adjusted to adesired position, a rotatable base supported by the upper tiltable base,and means connecting the upper tiltable base and the rotatable base forlocking the two bases when the rotatable base is adjusted to a desiredposition; means for placing the guide support and hence the holder andcrystal at a predetermined angle of cut with respect to the cutter, andmeans for advancing the guide support, holder and crystal as a unit tothe cutter at such predetermined angle of out.

11. In apparatus for manufacturing quartz oscillator plates, theimprovement comprising a cutter, an adjustable guide support, aremovable quartz crystal holder adapted to engage the guide support in apredetermined position; said holder comprising a fixed base, a lowertiltable base pivotally supported on pivoting means secured to the fixedbase, the lower tiltable base being tiltable with respect to the fixedbase about a straight line axis at a fixed distance from the fixed base,means connecting the fixed base and the lower tiltable base for lockingthe two bases when the lower tiltable base is adjusted to a desiredposition, an upper tiltable base pivotally supported on pivoting meanssecured to the lower tiltable base, the upper tiltable base beingtiltable with respect to the lower tiltable base and the fixed baseabout a straight line axis in perpendicular relationship to the otherstraight line axis and a fixed distance from the lower tiltable base,means connecting the lower tiltable base and the upper tiltable base forlocking the two bases when the upper tiltable base is adjusted to adesired position, a rotatabl base supported by the upper tiltable base,and means connecting the upper tiltable base and the rotatable base forlocking the two bases when the rotatable base is adjusted to a desiredposition; means for placing the guide support and hence the holder andcrystal at a predetermined angle of cut with respect to the cutter, andmeans for bringing the guide support, holder and crystal as a unit andthe cutter into cutting position at such predetermined angle of cutWILLIAM C. SPEED.

